LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

Existing law authorizes a person sentenced to imprisonment in a state prison or to imprisonment in a county jail for the conviction of a felony, during that period of confinement, to be deprived of those rights, and only those rights, as are reasonably related to legitimate penological interests. Existing law provides, subject to that provision, that prisons prisoners have certain civil rights, including, among others, the right to correspond, confidentially, with any member of the State Bar or holder of public office, provided that the prison authorities may open and inspect incoming mail to search for contraband.

This would require an inmate in the
each state prison or a and county jail to provide inmates incarcerated persons with reasonable access to outside victim advocates for emotional support services related to sexual abuse, domestic violence, and suicide prevention by allowing inmates incarcerated persons to call the toll-free hotlines of organizations that provide mental health crisis support. The bill would require that reasonable
communication between an inmate incarcerated person and those organizations is be confidential and that calls to the toll-free hotlines are be free of cost to inmates. incarcerated persons. By imposing additional duties on county jails, this
the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.

This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Digest Key

Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 2605 is added to the Penal Code, to read:

2605.

Each state prison and county jail shall provide inmates incarcerated persons with reasonable access to outside victim advocates for emotional support services related to sexual abuse, domestic violence, and suicide prevention by allowing inmates incarcerated persons to call the toll-free hotlines of organizations that provide mental health crisis support. The state prison or a county jail shall ensure that reasonable communication
between an inmate incarcerated person and those organizations is confidential and shall ensure that calls to the toll-free hotlines are free of cost to inmates. incarcerated persons.

SEC. 2.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.